Dishwashing machine



Feb. 8; 1927.

1,617,021 R. B. MITCHELL DISHWASHING MACHINE I Filed Oct. 8. 1921 s She ets-Sheet 1 [Ta/K722 074- I Feb. 851927. 1,617,021

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DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8. ,1921.

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IIIIIIIIIA IIIIIIIA I I 1,617,021 a. MITCHELL f Patented Feb. 8, 1927..

ROBERT B. MITCHELL, 0F HILLSDALE, M ICHI GAN.

' DI SHWASHING MACHINE.

he object of this invention is to provide a dish washing machine for. household or other use whichwill'be self-contained, compact, portable,.and adapted for economical operation. lVith these ends .in View. the washer consists essentially of a tank suitably mounted for easy transport having within the tanka series of racks for the reception of dishes to be washed, together with spray heads for delivering the water upon the dishes under the action of a pumpoperat-ed by means of a small electric motor. Provision is made for the continuous circulation of the water and forthe removal of sediments or waste washed from the dishes.

as occasion may require.

Further objects will appear from a detailed description of theinvention which consists inthe features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. i I

In the drawings: Figure l is a sectional elevation of a washing machine, showing the spray heads and associated parts in elevation; r

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the exterior chamber and waste strainer;

Fig. 3 is a detail showing thearrangement of the three-way valve for controlling the flow of the water;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation ofthe threeway valve;

ig. 5 is a top or plan view of the upper spray head; 7

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the angular arrangement of thespray openings in thedischarge head;

Fig.7 is a detail partly in section showing the hub mountings for the spray head;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the exterior tank for silverware Fig. 9 is a horizontal section View of the same; 1

ig. 10 is a diagram indicating'the angle of impingement of the water against the plates stacked in the lower rack;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the lower dish rack; and

F ig. 12 is a sectional elevation thereof.

The washer comprises a main tank 1 referably of cylindrical shape provided with a conical bottom 2 having its apex to one side cover. The cover is vertical, as indicated in Fig. 10.

.inafter referred to.

Application filed October 8, 1921.. Serial No. 506,382.

of the center. i. The tankis mounted upon a plurality (preferablythree) of legs or standards 3 which are provided with castors 4 to facilitate movement. The upper end of :the tank is closedby means of a cover 5 bracket hinge 6, and

secured at one side to a providedwith a handle 5* for lifting the flanged around its periphery which fits into the mouth of the tank, and when lowered is supported :by an annular inwardly extending bead 7 which also furnishes a support for an upper. wire rack 8 for the reception of deep vessels, such as cups, tumblers, and the like Below the upper rack is located a lower rack 9 which finds support upon the periphery of the conical bottom, which rack is mtended for the reception of platesysaucers, or other substantially fiat dishes which' are supported on edge at a slight angle to the T The special construction of the wire racks will be here- I The water for washing purposes is supplied through a fitting 10 in the form of a side hill flange whichis entered through the center of the conical bottom and fur. nishes a support for a fixed'upstanding water pipe 11 which, at its upper end, carries a rotatable hub 12 from which extend a set of short radial lower arins 13 and a set of long radial arms 14, which arrangement of hub and pipes constitute the spray head for delivering the water to the dishes. It will be'noted that the spray head occupies an intermediate relation between the upper and lower dish racks, and the upper set of arms are designed to spray water both upwardly and downwardly while the lower set of arms discharge downwardly only.

The hub 12 and mounting therefor are best illustrated in Fig. 7, wherein it will be noted that the hub is provided at its ends with upper and lower socket heads 15 and 16 respectively, the former ofwhich is in the form of a cap, and furnishes an upper discharge chamber 17, nishes a lowerdischarge chamber 18 in communication withthe upper and lower sets of radiating discharge pipes. The lower chamber communicates with the slot or orifice 19 in.the side wall ofthe center and the latter furpipe, which latter extends to a oint within close proximity to the upper en of the hub,

which contacts a stop bearing 21 for limiting the upward lift of the spray head under pressure of the water by contact with the center of the superimposed upper dish rack.

hen the device is in operation, the hub and associated parts will be lifted out of contact with the upper end of the supply pipe, as indicated in Fig. 7, so that the spray head will ride freely on a water cushion, thereby minimizing friction and avoiding the necessity of using ball bearings or like anti-friction elements.

The water is discharged from the radiat-ing arms in amanner now to be described. The upper arms, four in number, are equally spaced, as shown in Fig. 5, andeach arm is provided along its top center hne with a series of equally spaced upper discharge ports 22, the corresponding ports on the several arms being arranged at varying distances from the axial center of the spray head as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, so that, as the spray head is rotated, the respective inner, intermediate and outer discharge ports w1ll circumscribe circles of varying radii, thereby serving to deliver jets of water to all parts of the upper portion of the tank, said et s being directed upwardly into the downwardly opening cups or other deep dishes.

The upper arms are also provided with two sets of lower discharge ports, one set comprising ports 23 which are arranged 1n a line at an angle of about from the vertical center of the arms,'and the other set 24 standing in line at an angle of about from the vertical center, as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 6. The number of openings on each arm set at an angle of 45 is greater than the number of openings on each arm set at 15. The corresponding sets of ports on the several arms are arranged at varying distances from the axial center after the manner previously described with reference to the upper discharge ports. The lower ports are designed to discharge jets of water at'two distinct angles which is desirable in order to effect a thorough cleansing of both sides of the flat dishes supported in the lower dish rack.

Each of the lower short arms 13 is pro-- vided with two sets of simi arports arranged respectively at angles of 45 and 15, the ports arranged 45 being greater in number, and the placing of the sets of ports from the axial center varying in the respective arms-in order to circumscribe a considerable number of concentric circles. All of the 45 ports on the upper andlower sets of arms are arranged on the same side thereof. so that, when water is discharged from the upper and lower arms, the re-action of the greater number of 45 ports will overpower the re-actlon ot the lesser number of 15 ports causing the spray head, as a whole,

chamber is of suflicient depth to accomlnodate the Water level in the main tank, and by locating it in exterior relation thereto, it is easily accessible for cleaning. The lower end of the chamber has secured thereto an elbow 33 which connects with areturn pipe 34 leading to a centrifugal pump 35, which latter is driven by an electric motor 36 through a flexible coupling 37. The pump drives the water to the delivery pipe 11 through a pipe connection 38 provided with a three-way valve 39, which latter has connected thereto a hose 40 leading to a silverware tank 41, the connection between the hose and the tank being tangentially ar ranged, as indicated in Fig. 9; and the tank being provided in the center of its bottom with a small discharge outlet 42.

The three-Way valve and associated parts is illustrated in Fig. 3, from which it will be seen that the valve plug is operated by' means of an arm,43 to which a rod 44 is secured leading to a knob or handle 45 conveniently arranged for operation. The spring 46 is provided for maintaining the valve in either one of two positions in which communication is either established between the pump and the upstanding pipe 11 and cut off from the hose 40, or vice versa.

The construction of the lower wire dish rack will now be described. This rack consists of an upper section framed on an upper outer wire ring 43 and an upper inner wire ring 44 and a lower section framed on a 1 ture a drum shaped formation.

The inner upper ring 44 provides an inner connection for a series of radiating rods 51 which in most cases are equally spaced and extend radially to a distance of slightly more than one half the radius of the structure. The outer end of each' radiating rod abuts against an obliquely arranged outer rod 52; the inner end of each of which rods terminates against the side of the next adjacent inner radiating rod with the exception that in some cases, as will appear from the upper right hand side of Fig. 11, two of the obliquely disposed rods terminate upon the same radiating rod which has the effect of reducing the space subtended between adjacent obliquely disposed rods. At the left of Fig. 11 it will also be noted that the arrangement described is departed from for the purpose of providing enlarged spaces for the reception of large dishes. The obliquely disposed rods terminate upon the outer upper ring andin conjunction with the radiating rods 51 furnish an interconnection between theinner and outer rings thereby tending to rigidly reinforce the same and knit the whole into a unitary form. f

The radiating inner rods have hung there'- from inner and outer pairs of connecting wires 53 and 54. each pair extending at a slight angle'to the vertical, the lower ends 55 of the respective connecting Wires being hooked under the underlying adjacent rings to afford obliquely upstanding fingers adapted to engage the lower edge of a plate saucer or the like to hold the same in place within the rack space afforded between adjacent radiating bars. The provision of these connecting rods also assists in reinforcing the structure. In like manner the obliquely disposed outer bars 52 are connected to the underlying rings by means of connecting bars 56 provided with hooked ends 57 similar to those previously described. This are rangement is one which affords 'aseries of inner radially arranged (ompartments and -a series of outer compartments angularly disposed with respect to the former, the

outer compartments being longer than the inner compartments to accommodate flat plates or dishes of thelarger sizes.

In order to furnish additional reinforcement, the bottom section is provided with a plurality of base rods 58 which extend generally in a radial direction and cut across the series of rings composing, the bottom section to which they are Secured. In order to rigidly and permanently unitethe rods and ringsromposing the rack, it is preferred to connect the same togetherby soldering, spot welding, or similar form of connection.

In operatiomthe tank cover istilted back, the upper rack removed and all the plates to be washed, includingplatters and fryingi pans, placed in the lower basket. The plates or other flat dishes are supported on edge in the holders provided therefor at the angle indicated in Fig. 10. This arrangement will cause the water discharged from the 45 poured overthe dishes.

tor is again started and the dishes and sil- 1 ports to impinge against the inner surfaces of the plates which are tilted forward to somewhat reduce the angle at which the 45 jets of water impinge, andat the sametimc the b'ack surfaces of the plates will stand atangular relation to the jets of the water-discharged from the 15 ports, so that the plates will be thoroughly washed on both faces. V

In placing the plates in position, it is not necessary to remove the spray head as it can be easily swungout of the way in inserting the'plates. After the latter are positioned, the upper rack is then placed in the tank and tilled with allthe deep dishes. Hot water containing a suitable washing compound is-then poured into the machine, the cover being lowered when the electric motor starts. The amount of water provided need only be suflicient to feed the pump a.

and maintain a high temperature while washing. The water entering the spray head under the force of the pump is expelled through the discharge port into the upper and lower radial arms. The preponderant action of the water discharged through the large number of 45 openings causes the spray head torotate, thus distrlbuting the water in jets over all of the dishes both above and below the spray head. The water discharged upwardly from the top openings in the upper set of arms shoots up into the deep dishes, the surplus striking thecover falling down'on the outside ofsuch dishes. The water in thetank flows through the circulating system and back to the pump, passing meanwhile through the screen where all waste and scraps are collected for removal.

The silverware is placed in the exterior tank 41 which is preferably located in the sink. When the motor has been run for two or three ininutes,.tlic three-way valve shifted, thus shutting oil'the water supply through the main tank and directing the water into the silverware tank. The water,

under pressure, enters at a tangent near the ottom causing 'a' swirling or vertical action,

thus cleaning the silverware, .The small drain opening 42 allows the Water remain- 1 ing in the vessel to run out into the sink. The cleaning water has now been all re-. moved from the tank through the action of the pump, and the.scrcen is then removedand placed under a faucet to remove the waste and scrap collectec'ltherein. After cleansing, the screen is replaced. the tank cover tilted back andltherinsing water After this the mo vcrware rinsedg The dishes and silverware are then allowed to dry and removed, and the machine may be easily pushed back 'into a corner outof the way. thus completing the operation. I I

neat in appearance, and can be instantly set up and operated in any establishment where an electric currentis provided.

I claim: 1 1. In a dish washing machine, the combinationofa tank, upper and lower dish holders within'the tank, a vertically disposed supply pipe, a pump for forcing water through'the supply pipe, a hub rotatably mounted on the supply pipe, an upper set of radiating armsc-arried by the hub and each provided with a set of'upwardly discharging ports and a set of downwardly discharging ports, and a set of lower radiating arms carried by the hub and each provided with downwardly discharging ports, bothsets of arms being positioned to rotate in a plane intermediate the up or and lower dish holders, substantially as escribed.

2. In a dish washing machine, in combination with a tank and holders for the dishes, avertically disposed supply pipe, a pump for forcing water throug the supply pipe, a hub rotatably mounted on the supply pipe, an upper set of radiating arms each provided with a set of upwardly discharging ports and a set of downwardly discharging ports, and a set of lower radiating arms provided with downwardly discharging ports, the sets of downwa-rdy discharging ports on the upper and lower arms being arranged on each arm in two series of diflering angular relation on opposite sides of the vertical center of each arm, the ports having the greater angular divergence from the vertical being greater in number than the others in order to establish a preponderant re-acting force serving to rotate the spray head, substantially as described.

In a dish washing machine, in combination with a tank and holders for the dishes, a vertically disposed supply pipe, a pump for forcing water through the supply pipe, a hub rotatably mounted on the sup ply pipe, an upper set of radiating arms each provided with a set of downwardly.

dischargingports, and a set of lower radiating arms provided with downwardly discharging ports, the sets of downwardly discharging ports on the upper and lower arms being arranged on each arm in two series of differing angular relation on opposite-sides of the vertical center 'of each arm, the ports having the greater angular divergence from the vertical being greater in numberthan the others in order to establish a preponderant re-acting forcefserving to rotate the spray head, substantially as described.

4. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a tank, a vertical supply pipe within the tank for supplying water under pressure, a hub rotatably mounted on the supply pipe, a set of relatively long upper tubular arms radiating from the hub, a set of relatively short tubular lower arms radiating from the hub, the upper arms being pro- "vided with a series of upwardly discharging tit! ports and two series of downwardly dis- 7 charging ports, one of the latter series comprisinga greater number of ports arranged at a greater angle of divergence. from the vertical than the ports comprising the other series, the lower set of short radiating arms being provided withtwo series of ports, the series comprising the greater number of ports being arranged at a greater angular divergence from the'vertical than the ports comprising the other series, and upper and lower dish racks respectively above and below the radiating arms, substantially as described.

In a dish washing machine, the combi-' nation ofa tank, a spraying apparatus'within the tank, a supply pipe for the spraying apparatus having interposed therein a threeway valve, a pump for the supply pipe, a return pipe leading from the tank back to the pump, an exterior receptacle for-silverware, and a pipe leading from the threeway valve to the exterior receptacle and connected thereto in tangential relation, the three-way valve affording means for cutting off the supply of water to the main tankand directing the waterflowing from the main tank through the pump to the exterior re.- ceptacle, substantially as described. 7

.6. In a dish washing machine, in combination with a tank, a vertical supply pipe for supplying water under pressure thereto, a hub surrounding the upper end of the supply pipe, said hub being closed at its upper end and provided with an annular chamber near its lower end, and the pipe contiguous to the annular chamber being perforated to supply water to the chamber, upper and lower sets of tubular arms radiating from the hub, the lower set communicating with the annular chamber, and the upper set with the space adjacent the upper end of the supply pipe, the tubular arms ,being provided with discharge ports rearwardly directed with respect to the directionvof intended r0 tation, and the hub and'tubular arm being a vertically movable upon the pipe, substantially as described.

7; In a dish washing machine, in combinater under pressure, a hub rotate tion with a tank, a vertieally disposed supply pipe Within the tank for S11 plying Wei;- ly mounted and freely restingnpon the upper end of the eupply pipe and vvertically movable with respect thereto, and a series of tubular spray arms radiating" from the hub and opening thereinto at a point adjacent the upper end of the supply 'pi e, the said arms being pro- Vided with disc arge ports rearwardly directed with respect to the direction of intended rotation, substantially as described.

R. B. MITCHELL. 

